Overview
The Knowledge system in Crimson Desert is a massive compendium that records virtually everything you encounter, discover, and learn while exploring the continent of Pywel. With 2,921 total entries spread across multiple categories, the Knowledge system serves as both a lore encyclopedia and a completionist tracking tool. Every NPC you speak to, every territory you visit, every boss you defeat, and every item you inspect contributes to your Knowledge progress.
Accessing the Knowledge Menu
The Knowledge menu is accessible from the main pause menu. It shows your progress across all categories and highlights which entries you have not yet discovered. Each category displays a completion counter (e.g., 45/110 Factions) so you can track exactly how far along you are.
The Knowledge tab also provides contextual information about NPCs, factions, creatures, and collectibles that you have encountered. Reading Knowledge entries is one of the best ways to learn about the lore and history of Pywel without relying on external sources.
Knowledge Categories
The 2,921 Knowledge entries are organized into the following categories:
Category | Total Entries | Description |
|---|---|---|
Territories | 573 | Locations, regions, towns, landmarks, and named areas across Pywel. Entries are added automatically when you visit a location for the first time. |
People | 467 | NPCs, quest givers, merchants, story characters, and background townspeople. Entries unlock through conversations and quest interactions. |
Adventures | 430 | Quests, side stories, encounters, and events you have completed or participated in. Both main story and side content contribute to this category. |
Crafting Manuals | 355 | Recipes and blueprints for crafting. Entries are added when you discover or purchase a new crafting manual. |
Factions | 110 | Information about the various factions, guilds, and organizations throughout Pywel. Entries unlock through story progression, NPC conversations, and discovering faction-related locations. |
Bosses | 76 | Records of all bosses you have defeated, including story bosses, optional overworld bosses, dungeon bosses, and Abyss-related encounters. |
Mounts | 29 | All mount types you have collected, tamed, or ridden. Includes horses, wyverns, and other rideable creatures. |
Other | 881+ | The remaining entries cover items, collectibles, creature types, world lore, environmental discoveries, and miscellaneous facts learned through exploration. |
How to Discover Knowledge Entries
Knowledge entries are earned through a wide variety of gameplay activities. Here are all the known methods:
Speaking to NPCs
Conversations with NPCs are one of the most common sources of Knowledge entries. Even casual merchants, background townspeople, and minor characters can yield new entries when spoken to. Quest givers and story characters unlock entries in the People category. Do not skip NPC conversations if you are aiming for high Knowledge completion.
Visiting Locations
Simply arriving at a named location or territory for the first time adds it to the Knowledge codex. This includes towns, dungeons, landmarks, points of interest, and remote areas. The 573 territory entries cover every named place on the continent.
Examining Items and Objects
Looking at items in a shop's inventory (even without buying them), inspecting interactable objects in the world, and reading documents or signs all register Knowledge entries. Browse every merchant's inventory when you visit a new town, even if you have no intention of purchasing anything.
Defeating Enemies and Bosses
Killing bosses and unique creatures adds them to the bestiary section of the Knowledge system. The 76 boss entries cover all story bosses, optional overworld bosses, dungeon bosses, and Abyss encounters. Defeating each boss typically also rewards Abyss Artifacts, rare equipment, or crafting materials in addition to the Knowledge entry.
Completing Quests and Events
Many main quests and side quests yield Knowledge entries as part of their completion rewards. Story milestones, event participation, and quest chains all contribute to the Adventures category.
Collecting Mounts
Taming wild horses, acquiring unique mounts, and riding new mount types for the first time all register Knowledge entries in the Mounts category. There are 29 mount types to collect.
Discovering Collectibles
Collectibles such as ceramic containers, wooden vessels, candles and lamps, dolls, decorative art pieces, and special trophies all contribute Knowledge entries. These are found through exploration, purchased from vendors, or earned by winning competitions such as the Spear Duel tournament.
Connection to the Axiom Archive
The Axiom Archive is a major landmark located on one of the Abyss islands. It is a large domed building at the end of a walkway surrounded by garden trees and foliage. The Archive plays a central role in the Abyss Without Balance main quest, where players must solve the Polar Opposites puzzle to gain entry.
To open the Axiom Archive, find the two wheels to the right of the building (among the hedges near the entrance steps). Use the Axiom Force ability to grab and turn the wheels, directing energy from the top pipe to the bottom pipe. The Lantern item reveals beam directions and highlights which pipe is currently active, so use it to check the flow before turning anything.
Inside the Axiom Archive, players discover significant lore about the Abyss and the nature of the world. The Archive serves as a physical manifestation of accumulated knowledge and connects directly to the game's overarching themes of discovery and understanding.
Tips for Knowledge Completion
Talk to everyone. Even background NPCs who seem unimportant can yield Knowledge entries. Make a habit of speaking to every character you encounter.
Browse shop inventories. Examining items in a shop (without buying) registers Knowledge entries. Visit every merchant and scroll through their full stock.
Explore off the beaten path. Back alleys, rooftops, cave systems, and remote areas often contain unique Knowledge entries that are not available anywhere else.
Check the Knowledge menu regularly. The menu shows exactly how many entries remain in each category. Use this to identify which types of activities you should prioritize.
Revisit areas after story progress. Some Knowledge entries only become available after certain story milestones. Returning to previously visited locations can reveal new entries.
Defeat every boss type. The 76 boss entries require defeating each unique boss at least once. This includes optional bosses that you might otherwise skip.
Related Pages
Axiom Archive for details on the Abyss location.
Exploration and Traversal for navigating Pywel's world.
Collectibles for a list of all collectible items.
Bosses for a list of all 76 boss encounters.